Suggest why the student soaked the root tips in hydrochloric acid in step 2.

Pressing the coverslip downwards enabled the student to observe the stages of mitosis clearly.

Explain why.

Figure 6 shows the student's drawing of one field of view.

Name the stage of mitosis shown in cell G. Explain the appearance of this cell.

Stage of mitosis

Explanation

Use Figure 6 to calculate a mitotic index for the cells in this field of view.

Mitotic index ______________

Other students in the class followed the same method, but calculated different mitotic indices.

Apart from student errors, suggest two explanations why.

1

2